Roller leveler



Sept. 8, 1942.

w. D. VSHIELIDS `2,295,017

ROLLER LEVELER Filedy Feb. 11, 1941 INVENTOR. mw w. 5m

W f6, SLAM@ Patented Sept. 8, 1942 ROLLER Laverne William D. Shields, Edgeworth, Pa., assigner to Edward W. Voss, Dormont, Pa.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in roller levelers for processing or straightening metal sheets after they are formed on a rolling mill, and it is among the objects thereof to provide an improved type of bearing for the top or bottom or both groups of rolls which act as supplemental bearing supports for the working rolls.

In a roller leveler having relatively long and slender work rolls, such supplementary bearings give longitudinal rigidity approximating that in relatively narrow levelers employing shorter rolls.

It has been observed in practice that the long and slender leveler rolls are too flexible to prevent cobbles, and this is particularly true when the ratio of length oi roll divided by its diameter is of the order of 40 or more.

A cobble is caused by the work sheet wrapping around the body of the roll or getting jammed between two adjoining rolls forming an accordion-shaped mass. In either case the work rolls between which the trouble occurs are forced apart. They either break or are permanently bent, depending on the amount of work sheet involved in the accident.

The present invention is designed to eliminate cobbles and consequently breakage or bending of the work roll.

The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a portion of the roller leveler frame and the leveler rollers;

Fig. 2 a cross-sectional View partially in ele- Vation taken transversely of the frame and rollers of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 a View in perspective of a supplementary bearing embodying the principles of this invention.

With reference to the several figures of the drawing, the numeral l designates a frame or 'yoke having a series of bases 2 to which are attached roller brackets 3, these roller brackets having stud shafts and bearing races for mounting a series of rollers t which act as supports for the work rolls 5 between which the sheet travels.

In accordance with the present invention, a series of supplementary bearings B are mounted on the upper frame by bolting them to a bearing support l through a spacer 8 by bolts passing through the openings 9 on the shoulders at the ends of the bearing supports, as shown in Figures 2' and 3.

Supplementary bearings are mounted on to the bottom base in a similar suitable manner.

The grooves l0 of thef supplementary bearing brackets B have a radius slightly larger than the radius of the work rolls 5, 'and are normally out of engagement with the work rolls.

In actual practice there will be a clearance of several thousandths of an inch between the work roll and the supplementary bearing, and there will be no physical contact until a Work sheet tends to force a roll oit-center. Thus in normal operation, the supplementary bearing will not introduce additional friction to retard the machine.

The supplementary bearing blocks may be of any metallic or non-metallic substance having the desired bearing characteristics. A Bakelite material will answer the purpose, and the half sections constituting the supplementary bearing can be molded to shape or the grooves lll may be machined thereon. As shown in the drawing, the supplementary half journals may be separately attached to the frame or they can be made a part of the back-up roller frame itself, and in either case the supplementary bearings may be applied equally well to the top or bottom rolls.

In operation, the work rolls 5 are supported only by the back-up rolls 4 at spaced intervals until the sheet passing through and between the work rolls tends to Cobble, which results in displacement of the work rolls. It is then that the supplementary half bearings engage the rollers at the points between the back-up rolls and prevent their displacement, thereby preventing cobbling of the sheet.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various mcdiications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

l. In a roller leveler having a plurality of work rolls and a plurality of back-up rolls at longitudinally-spaced intervals, of a plurality of supplementary half bearings disposed intermediate the back-up rolls, said supplementary half bearings being normally out of contact with the work rolls but being adapted to engage the work rolls when the latter are subjected to axial displacement.

2. In a roller leveler, a plurality of laterally spaced work rolls, backing rolls engaging the Work rolls at longitudinally spaced intervals and supplementary half bearings in alignment for supporting the work rolls disposed intermediate said back-up rolls, said half bearings having a radius slightly larger than the radius of the Work rolls to be normally out of contact therewith and to engage the work rolls when the latter are subjected to axial displacement.

WILLIAM D. SHIELDS, 

